Regarded by many as “the inventor of the blues”, Old Man Williams was actually born in Liverpool, England. It was from Liverpool in 1863, at just 14 years old, that he stowed away on board a transatlantic paddle steamer bound for New York, USA
Penniless and homeless, and still only 15 years old, Williams was conscripted by the unionist army in 1864 and spent the next year fighting in the American civil war. Personally honoured for his bravery by Abraham Lincoln, Old Man simply shrugged and commented; “I just lost it back there, I suppose.”
Upon leaving the army, Old Man Williams never really found a permanent place to call home (witness the classic ‘I aint got no home nowhere to go’), and spent most of his life travelling the United States performing in local bars and hotels. He would often play simply for a meal and a place to sleep the night.
It is perhaps ironic that the Old Man Williams estate has amassed a great fortune from sales of his music in recent times, when in fact the man himself owned only his guitar and the clothes he stood up in. He was quoted as saying; “I aint poor compared to some fellers, at least I’ve got me guitar." Old Man's influence can still be heard in a variety of today's music, and indeed, he has proved to be the inspiration for many songwriters and guitarists over the past century.
There will never be a definitive collection of Old Man’s work as many of the recordings he made have been lost forever. But the Remasters collection is arguably the best legacy of the great bluesman. Captured by the Edison Phonograph around the turn of the century, each track has been painstakingly reworked from the original primitive recording, and using the latest digital techniques, optimised for your listening pleasure. Enjoy the re-vitalised sounds of Old Man Williams and bring a piece of the history of popular music into your home!
Download MP3s from the Remasters collection below:
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Too Shy - Considered by aficionados to be one of the definitive songs from the Old Man Williams repertoire.
Whole Lotta Rosie - In it's original format. Later versions would often contain extensive guitar improvisation and tricks designed to excite his enthusiastic audience.
Can't Get You Out Of My Head - This song is thought to have been inspired by the woman Old Man described as his 'little doll'.
Walking Blues - Thought to be the first ever blues recording.
Killin' Fields - An instrumental inspired by Old Man's experiences of the American civil war.